Town Centre Operations

The overall daily parking figures for the council car parks for 2018/19 was 2,626,616. These figures do not include all the season, commuter and residents parking permits. The free two-hour parking totals for 2018/19 saw 934,440 taking advantage of the free parking with the Grosvenor car park receiving the highest number of visitors with 400,528 (42.9%). Saturday parking figures in MSCP’s for 2018/19 reached 310,141 and Sunday parking figures reached 147,058.

We undertook public consultation on the proposed changes to parking charges. We had previously made some changes following discussions with business organisations. We received 112 responses to the consultation. There was acceptance of a number of the proposals, although, as is to be expected, there was less support for some others. After considering them, we have decided that the only way to meet the financial target required to carry out the repairs and improvements to our car parks that are required will be to implement the changes as proposed. The new charging regime is to be implemented in July.

The annual town centre footfall figures between April 2018 – March 2019 was 12,633,907 for the Abington Street & Market Square cameras.

The programme of improvement works across the council’s car parks has commenced with the relining of the Market Street and Melbourne car parks having been completed. Works orders have been placed for the lift refurbishment projects across the Council’s MSCP’s and orders for the replacement of the outdated pay machines and resurfacing at the Grosvenor will be raised shortly. The ongoing improvement works will continue throughout 2019 and 2020.

Regeneration

Economic Growth and Regeneration

Future High Street Fund

- Following the submission of Northampton’s Expression of Interest into the Future High Street Fund the council have commissioned architects to develop a detailed masterplan for the town.
- The first phase of this work will be to undertake a wide public consultation to get their views on the future of the town. This consultation started on 15th May with a well-attended event at the University of Northampton. Further events will be taking place at the Grosvenor Centre on 18th, 20-24 May from 11am – 3pm with the online consultation staying open until 30th June.

**Vulcan Works**

- The Vulcan Works project continues to move at pace with clearance and demolition of the former Angle Street cottage building and roofs of the factories along Guildhall having already taken place.

**Upton Country Park**

- Idverde have been appointed as the contractor for the Upton Country Park Phase 2 project. Work on site will commence in May.

**Delapre Abbey**

The Leases of the Abbey to DAPT has been completed, enabling the final HLF contributions to the scheme to be released.

**Four Waterside**

This important development site is now fully back in the Council’s control, and proposals for its future development are under discussion. The hoardings will shortly be improved on this prominent site.

**Station Multi-storey Car Park**

There is positive progress in the discussions with Network Rail and their partners to bring this important development for Northampton forward.

**Heritage**

**Queen Eleanor Cross**

Works have now commenced for the sensitive repair of the Queen Eleanor Cross, and the detailed investigations are progressing well, following the erection of the scaffolding required for access.

A number of public events are planned.

**Councillor Tim Hadland**

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Enterprise & Planning

**PLANNING**

**Planning Applications**

- Planning application N/2019/0200 for the extension and refurbishment of the Rectory Farm Community Centre was approved by the Planning Committee on 16th April 2019.

- Planning application N/2018/0848 for the development of 115 dwellings at the former Blackthorn Middle School site, Blackthorn Road was approved in principle by the Planning Committee on 16th April 2019, subject to the finalisation of a S106 agreement to secure planning obligations.

- Planning application N/2018/1587 for the demolition of St James Work factory and erection of 20 affordable dwellings at Vicarage Road was approved in principle by the Planning Committee on 7th May 2019, subject to the finalisation of a S106 agreement to secure planning obligations.

- Development Management has maintained 100% performance standard in terms of major, minor and other applications in April 2019.

New Planning Applications received

- 139 new dwellings Land off Lancaster Way (FP/2019/381)
- 2 new dwellings Tyes Court (FP/2019/374)
- 2 new dwellings Keswick Drive (FP/2019/373)
- 3 new dwellings Gray Street (FP/2019/313)

Planning policy

- Delighted to report that Public consultation on the Northampton Local Plan Part 2 started on 1st May and finish on 14th June 2019.
- Work continues on the production of supplementary planning documents on parking, houses in multiple occupation and specialist accommodation.

Building control

Applications received April 52 Site inspections carried out April 249 Completion Certificates issued April 37 Works commenced April 59 Building Regulations income for April £28K

Councillor James Hill Cabinet Member for Planning